2 March 2009 Media Monitoring Report www.unmis.org Mission in / Public Information Office

Local News Headlines

• “SRSG Qazi faces government’s rage” (Al-Ahdath) • “Infuriate the West” – Al-Bashir (Al-Ahdath) • 4 March will be business as usual – Defence Minister (Al-Khartoum) • Police warns against use of ICC to create insecurity (Al-Akhbar) • “UNMIS to decide staff status today” (Al-Ahdath) • President Bashir pardons 4000 inmates (Al-Khartoum) • SPLM keen on holding elections on schedule (Al-Khartoum)

Websites/International Headlines

• 57 died in Malakal clashes – GoSS VP Machar (AP) • SPLM calls on government to deal wisely with ICC verdict (Miraya FM) • Darfur rebels say Sudan's PDF plan chaos on 4 March (ST) • Sudan expels foreign newsman (AFP)

NOTE: Reproduction here does not mean that the UNMIS PIO can vouch for the accuracy or veracity of the contents, nor does this report reflect the views of the United Nations Mission in Sudan. Furthermore, international copyright exists on some materials and this summary should not be disseminated beyond the intended list of recipients.

Address: UNMIS Headquarters, P.O. Box 69, Ibeid Khatim St, Khartoum 11111, SUDAN Phone: (+249-1) 8708 6000 - Fax: (+249-1) 8708 6200

UNMIS Media Monitoring Report 2 March 2009 WWW.UNMIS.ORG

Highlights

Local Arabic and English Language Press

“SRSG Qazi faces government’s rage” Al-Ahdath reports that the government has threatened to expel SRSG Ashraf Qazi because of statements attributed to him that UNMIS provided information to the ICC about Sudan. Reportedly, the Government described Qazi’s statements as provocative. MFA is expected to summon Qazi today on his cooperation with the ICC.

Informed government sources were said to expect Qazi’s statements to provoke angry reactions not only from the MFA but also from all official state organs and could ultimately lead to his expulsion. Sources said “Qazi made the statements at a time when Sudan’s relations with the Court are very tense because of an impending decision against President Al-Bashir”.

An UNMIS press release issued yesterday described the statements attributed to Qazi as totally incorrect. The press release accused the paper, Al-Raed, of deliberate dissemination of wrong information.

Today’s Al-Raed reports that the government hinted it would expel the SRSG if it is proven that he “had provided” information to the ICC. The paper claimed that a Government source had indicated the authorities considered the “admission” of UNMIS “cooperation” with the ICC as a provocation that could ultimately lead to the SRSG’s expulsion. Qazi had earlier denied that UNMIS had leaked any information to the ICC.

A high-level government source informed the paper that Qazi’s statements were unacceptable especially since they were made at a time of tension between the government and the ICC and an impending decision against the President.

According to Al-Khartoum, Qazi told Egypt’s Al-Masri Al-Youm that UNMIS “provided information to the ICC about Sudan”

Al-Akhbar was among the papers to cover the UNMIS statement rebutting local media reports that the SRSG had admitted UNMIS provided information to the ICC. Deputy Spokesperson Zerrouk Kouider told the paper that the SRSG never gave an interview to the Al-Masri Al- Youm and said it appeared the reporter had drawn on previous statements the SRSG made in Khartoum and . However, he noted that the translation was inaccurate and said the reference to an interview was a “complete fabrication”.

Al-Rai Al-Aam reports that the Government asked SRSG Qazi to elaborate on the information he reportedly had provided to the ICC. Sudan Ambassador to UN Abdul Mahmoud Abdul Haleem described Qazi’s statement as dangerous, adding that the UNMIS mandate was to monitor CPA implementation and that UNMIS came to Sudan at the two partners’ request. He said the UNMIS mandate is limited to assisting national authorities without prejudice to national sovereignty. He said ICC accusations were related to Darfur not southern Sudan.

UN News Centre 1/3/09 reported UNMIS strongly protested a report in Al-Raed newspaper alleging that SRSG Qazi admitted that the Mission provided information about the country to the International Criminal Court. Page 2 of 5

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“The report is a complete fabrication,” the Mission said in a statement issued in Khartoum, referring to the report headlined 'Qazi admits UNMIS provided information to the ICC about

Sudan.'

According to UNMIS, the Al-Raed report is a distortion of a recently published Egyptian magazine article, entitled 'I did not provide the ICC with reports on Al-Bashir-SRSG.'

The Mission questioned Al-Raed's motive in misrepresenting Mr. Qazi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan and head of UNMIS, on so sensitive an issue at this particular time.

“UNMIS calls upon Al-Raed to correct this flagrant example of misreporting which, in the Mission's view, verges on disinformation,” the statement said.

The Mission added that it has repeatedly urged media to uphold standard journalistic practices and to check with the UNMIS Spokesperson's Office when reporting on UNMIS-related matters.

“Infuriate the West” – Al-Bashir Al-Ahdath reports President Al-Bashir reiterated rejection of the ICC and accused the west of seeking to escalate conflict in Darfur. “Anything that infuriates the west we will do” he told Eastern Sudan rally in Khartoum yesterday. “Where was international justice in , , Gaza and Lebanon,” he said, adding “Sudan supports resistance in those countries”. He said the government would respond to the enemies with additional developmental projects. “Let those who covet Sudan’s oil and resources try to lick their elbows,” he said.

AFP reports President Al-Bashir sought to rally the support of the Sudanese people ahead of an ICC decision on whether to issue a warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Darfur and that huge posters of Al-Bashir have appeared in the streets of Khartoum. "Al-Bashir is the symbol of our dignity and pride," says one poster. "Ocampo's conspiracy is a desperate attempt to humiliate the Sudanese people," says another. "Ocampo's farce is a conspiracy that is rejected by all."

4 March will be business as usual – Defence Minister Al-Khartoum report Defence Minister Gen. Abdul Rahim Mohamed Hussein as saying 4 March will be “business as usual for the government”. He described the ICC as a tool of neo- colonization in remarks at the Al-Shahid Foundation’s conference in Khartoum yesterday.

Police warns against use of ICC to create insecurity Al-Akhbar reports Khartoum State threatened to deal decisively with any attempt to take advantage of an impending ICC decision to destabilize security in the State. A meeting of the State Security Committee presided over by Khartoum Sate Governor Abdul Haleem Al-Mutaafi yesterday decided that decisions would be carried out in coordination with NISS and SAF. Al- Mutaafi said the security situation in the State was stable.

According to Al-Rai Al-Aam, Foreign Minister Deng Alor told EU Envoy T. Pierre yesterday that the west was using the ICC to weaken Sudan and to create insecurity in Southern Sudan.

“UNMIS to decide staff status today” Al-Ahdath reports SRSG Ashraf Qazi told UNMIS staff yesterday that the Mission was in the

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UNMIS Media Monitoring Report 2 March 2009 WWW.UNMIS.ORG

process of deciding whether national staff should continue going to work or proceed on open leave. Reportedly, the mission is to decide whether the international staff should stay or be evacuated. Qazi advised the staff not to engage in any discussion on the ICC.

President Bashir pardons 4000 inmates Al-Khartoum reports President Al-Bashir issued a decree granting amnesty to 4,000 non- Muslim prisoners in Khartoum. According to the BBC, most of those freed are women accused of brewing alcohol.

SPLM keen on holding elections on schedule Al-Khartoum reports FVP and GoSS President Salva Kiir as saying that he fears an election delay could result in delay of referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan. Kiir told a political rally in Juba yesterday that the SPLM would do its utmost to ensure elections take place as schedule.

Websites/International News Coverage

57 died in Malakal clashes – GoSS VP Machar Associated Press, 1/3/09, Khartoum -- Clashes between militia and local government troops in a southern Sudan town killed at least 57 people and wounded nearly 100. More than two dozen of those killed in last week's fighting in the volatile town of Malakal were civilians, said GoSS VP Riek Machar, according to the official Sudanese news agency, SUNA. He said 15 of the dead were militia fighters and 16 belonged to the SAF. He also said 94 were wounded, SUNA reported.

Al-Intibaha reported Riak Machar and Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmed Haroun detailed the Malakal casualties at Khartoum press conference yesterday: 16 were killed and 33 injured on SAF side; 15 killed and 40 injured from SPLA; and 26 civilians were killed and 21 injured.

SPLM calls on government to deal wisely with ICC verdict Miraya FM 1/3/09 SPLM called on the GoNU to deal calmly and wisely with any decision made by the ICC concerning President al-Bashir. SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum said that the current political situation makes it imperative for everyone to deal calmly with the courts decision and reiterated his urge for the government to cooperate with the ICC.

Darfur rebels say Sudan's PDF plan chaos on 4 March Sudan Tribune website 2/3/09 JEM said today that the Sudanese paramilitary Popular Defence Force plan to spread chaos in the capital and attack families of alleged supporters of the ICC on Wednesday 4 March.

JEM said it received reliable information about plans by the PDF to target the families of ICC supporters in reprisals for the expected arrest warrant the ICC against President Bashir.

According to the rebel movement, the decision was taken during a meeting of the PDF held this weekend in Khartoum. "Mr. Kamal Abd-al-Latif, State Minister of the Ministerial Council headed and addressed the gathering."

"The Minister vowed to repeat what he called 'Black Monday' in reference to the carnage that followed the tragic death of Dr Garang in 2005. Members of PDF are instructed to target families of supporters of ICC in revenge Al-Bashir’s indictment.

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The rebel statement was purportedly issued by the "Intelligence and Information Unit, JEM" from the "Liberated Zone, Darfur."

Source: Sudan Tribune website, Paris in English 2 Mar 09 BBC Mon Alert ME1 MEEau 020309/hh-mr

Sudan expels foreign newsman AFP, Khartoum, 1/3/09, Khartoum -- The Sudanese government on Sunday expelled a foreign correspondent who had been covering the civil war in Darfur ahead of an expected decision by the ICC. Latif, a Tunisian who worked for the Arabic service of France 24 TV as well as the pan- Arabic daily Al-Hayat, was detained Friday. "He was expelled this evening," a senior Sudanese official told AFP.

Last month, Latif filmed footage of deadly clashes between government troops and JEM rebels around the town of Muhajiriya.

Sudanese security forces seized material from Latif's Khartoum flat at the time of his detention, friends said, asking not to be identified. On Saturday, Reporters Without Borders demanded explanations from the government about Latif's treatment. The authorities said he was being held for overstepping the bounds of his permission to enter Sudan.

UNMIS Media Monitoring Report 2 March 2009 WWW.UNMIS.ORG